These Two Towers Are Vital, Why Are We Letting Them Crumble?

The title of this column is not a reference to the second book of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series, nor does it refer to the terrorist attack that cost so many insurance professionals, and others, their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

Rather, it refers to public education and health care, two vital institutions that face mounting pressures that, if left unchecked, could undermine our ability to function as a civil society.

You might argue that both institutions are already so damaged, and our society already so impaired, that we might not recover. I’d prefer to retain an optimistic view.

But as our reporters and others are noting, incidents of violence against teachers and health care workers continue apace. Workers’ compensation exposures in both fields are mounting.

Now add to that the widespread tail of COVID, talent shortages, cyberbullying and harassment of students, school board meeting atmospheres that have become more and more heated and unreasonable, and rising health care provider burnout rates.